There's nothing more exciting than a spy thriller to warm up the blood and glue people to their seats. The tension and suspense of a well-made secret agent movie or TV series can be palpable, and that's the excitement of these spy shows. Netflix has consistently put out great spy shows where there's often more than meets the eye.
There are numerous great contenders for the best spy series on Netflix, but that's not to say they don't have some excellent non-original content available for streaming. Those wanting to dive into the world of spy thrillers can add these shows to their list. They are exciting, compelling, gripping, and addictive, delivering everything a great spy show should.
12 'In From the Cold' (2022)
Creator: Adam Glass
In From the Cold is an American-made show revolving around a Russian agent. The title was derived from the John le Carre novel The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. That concept signifies bringing agents home after active duty, leaving their careers behind.
In this show, the story seems to be the opposite – the main character, Jenny (Margarita Levieva), has left the service behind and rebuilt a life as a soccer mom. However, she gets exposed one day, forcing her to return to the service. In From the Cold is a spy thriller with some sci-fi elements for those who enjoy genre mashups. It's an entertaining twist on a classic spy thriller powered by a tremendous performance from the ever-underrated Levieva.
In From the Cold
- Release Date
- January 28, 2022
- Cast
- Margarita Levieva , Cillian O'Sullivan , Lydia Fleming , Charles Brice
- Seasons
- 1
11 'Treason' (2022)
Creator: Matt Charman
Among the most popular original spy series on Netflix is Treason, starring Charlie Cox, Oona Chaplin, and Olga Kurylenko. Cox plays Adam, a well-established MI6 agent with a promising career ahead of him. However, one day, his boss gets poisoned by Kara (Kurylenko), a rogue KGB spy.
Although not the highest-quality spy material on Netflix, Treason boasts a terrific lead performance from Charlie Cox, the episode lengths are appropriate, and the story wraps up in five episodes. This may be its biggest advantage, as viewers often complain about stories feeling stretched out and unrealistic. While Treason could have easily been perfected with a couple more episodes to truly flesh out the story, it's a pretty great show as is.
Treason
- Release Date
- December 26, 2022
- Creator
- Matt Charman
- Cast
- Olga Kurylenko , Oona Chaplin , Ciarán Hinds , Charlie Cox
- Seasons
- 1
10 'FUBAR' (2023 - )
Creator: Nick Santora
FUBAR revolves around the complicated father-daughter relationship between Luke (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Emma Brunner (Monica Barbaro), who are both CIA operatives but are unaware of each other's roles in the industry. When Luke is pulled in for one last job, he's just as shocked as Emma is to learn that they're both spies.
Full of wild stunts and hilarious moments, FUBAR is still a bit messy and could have used a more streamlined approach to its storytelling. However, FUBAR is also fun and full of heart, especially thanks to Schwarzenegger and Barbaro's surprisingly good chemistry on the small screen. The famous action star is more than happy to embrace a new, lighter, sillier side to his career, and his loyal audience is okay with that.
FUBAR
- Release Date
- May 25, 2023
- Cast
- Arnold Schwarzenegger , Monica Barbaro , Gabriel Luna , Fortune Feimster
- Seasons
- 1
9 'Traitors' (2019)
Creator: Bathsheba Doran
The British are deeply entrenched in the spy genre, from James Bond to Killing Eve. Following a prominent role in the famous spy series Spooks, Keeley Hawes returns to the genre with Traitors as Priscilla, a senior civil servant working at the Cabinet Office. However, Priscilla isn't the protagonist. That role belongs to Feef (Emma Appleton), a British woman with an American lover who convinces her to spy on her government for the Americans.
Traitors is among the best British shows on Netflix. A classic tale of espionage set in the late 1940s just after World War II, Traitors is a modern spin on the classic spy genre. Audiences loved it, but it didn't impress the critics as much. Fans of espionage shows can decide for themselves if it's worthy of attention.
Traitors
- Release Date
- March 29, 2019
- Cast
- Emma Appleton , Brandon P Bell , Keeley Hawes , Luke Treadaway , Benjamin Walker , Michael Stuhlbarg
- Seasons
- 1
8 'Spycraft' (2021)
Directors: Maria Berry, Jan Spindler, Marek Bures
While Spycraft isn't a show with prominent characters or a specifically focused storyline, it revolves around real-life spies, and their tools and practices. Nothing's more entertaining than wild and exciting spy stories that really happened, and they're all recounted by former CIA agents and people of importance.
Although it's quite popular, not everyone is as versed as others in the ways of the spy genre. Fans who don't know much about espionage and the ways of secret agents in general, will have loads of fun with this original docu-series. Spycraft works best as an introduction to the larger spy genre, featuring its main tropes and opening the door for further viewing and understanding some of the best spy and secret agent-based movies out there.
7 'Pine Gap' (2018)
Creator: Greg Haddrick
Pine Gap comes from Australia, and revolves around the US/Australian joint defense facility in central Australia. It tells a story of friendship and loyalty, which begins when a plane gets shot down in Myanmar, and the US and Australian governments need to figure out the motive behind the attack.
The cast expertly depicts the struggle between juggling personal moral choices and dedication to their countries' governments. Pine Gap's plot is further elevated by its real-life location, Pine Gap, a mysterious building and spy hub in the middle of Australia. Fans of House of the Dragon will be happy to see Steven Toussaint in one of the leading roles.
6 'The Recruit' (2022)
Creator: Alexi Hawley
Netflix's heartthrob and breakout star Noah Centineo has taken a leap into more serious roles, and after an action-packed role in Black Adam, he plays a lawyer for the CIA in The Recruit. Here, he's recruited to find threats directed at the agency. Although he's not the real spy here, his role becomes more secret agent-like with every passing episode.
The Recruit is an action-packed show with witty dialogue, effortless charm, and a self-aware sense of humor. Although it sometimes gets a bit casual and unrealistic, it's still an entertaining affair. This isn't for anyone who nitpicks about what could and couldn't go down. Shows like The Recruit just want viewers to have a good and suspenseful time.
The Recruit
- Release Date
- December 16, 2022
- Cast
- Noah Centineo , Fivel Stewart , Laura Haddock , Aarti Mann
- Seasons
- 2
5 'House of Ninjas' (2024)
Creator: Dave Boyle
One of the best Japanese shows on Netflix right now, House of Ninjas is centered on a dysfunctional family of shinobi, a term originating from feudal Japan and used to refer to covert agents. The dysfunctional family has long since retired from their violent profession, but are roped back into the lifestyle when a series of threats forces them back into their shadowy ways. Along the way, they struggle to connect and are still hurt from a prior loss of one of their own.
Fans of Japanese shows should consider the Netflix series essential viewing, as it pays homage to the country's classic action flicks of the '90s with its over-the-top yet flawlessly choreographed fight scenes. It doesn't stray too far from the formula but has a mystery and core premise that's intriguing enough to keep audiences hooked until the very end.
House of Ninjas
- Release Date
- February 15, 2024
- Creator(s)
- Dave Boyle
- Cast
- Kento Kaku , Yôsuke Eguchi , Tae Kimura , Nobuko Miyamoto , Tomorowo Taguchi , Elyse Dinh , Aju Makita , Riho Yoshioka
- Seasons
- 1